1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol - that our lives had become unmanageable.
poem article
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
poem article
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
poem article
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
poem article
5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
poem article
6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
poem article
7. Humbly asked him to remove our shortcomings.
poem article
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
poem article
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
poem article
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
poem article
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood Him,
praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
poem article
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics,
and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
poem article
The 12 steps are owned and copyrighted by Alcoholics Anonymous.
These steps appear on pages 59-60 of AA's Big Book.
Don't you wish everyone was involved in a 12 Step Program?
poem article
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
poem article
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
poem article
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
poem article
5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
poem article
6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
poem article
7. Humbly asked him to remove our shortcomings.
poem article
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
poem article
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
poem article
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
poem article
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood Him,
praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
poem article
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics,
and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
poem article
The 12 steps are owned and copyrighted by Alcoholics Anonymous.
These steps appear on pages 59-60 of AA's Big Book.
Don't you wish everyone was involved in a 12 Step Program?
| The pages in recovery 12 Steps | Higher Power | News | Promises |
Creating dreams...
through recovery
through recovery
I'm not saying religion doesn't work. It works for many people and everyone has a wonderful story to share.
But it doesn't work for me. But my spiritual journey did need a basic foundation with what I learned as a child
through religion.
I needed to have hope for a future in a bright new world. I needed to believe in a love that was unconditional
and I needed to have a trust in Something that I really could never totally explain. For me, I needed to find a
way where the 12 Steps and the 10 Commandments worked together.
Over time, I realized that they are basically two sides of the same coin. This is my humble attempt at trying to
make comparisons between the two.
But it doesn't work for me. But my spiritual journey did need a basic foundation with what I learned as a child
through religion.
I needed to have hope for a future in a bright new world. I needed to believe in a love that was unconditional
and I needed to have a trust in Something that I really could never totally explain. For me, I needed to find a
way where the 12 Steps and the 10 Commandments worked together.
Over time, I realized that they are basically two sides of the same coin. This is my humble attempt at trying to
make comparisons between the two.
| Sobriety |
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| Some material on this page belongs to Dave Harm ©Copyright Dave Harm Please read the copyright page for use of this material |
A spiritual journey is extremely personal. Along the way some very
magical experiences can occur. The hard part about starting a
journey of this kind is "throwing away" everything you ever learned
up to that point. I do believe that it is not a sin to explore our
spiritual heritage and how we got to where we are.
I also believe that my Higher Power encouraged this journey of mine.
The reason, I believe, is to have a closer relationship with Him (or
Her). This is why a spiritual journey doesn't have to involve religion.
With religion we are stuck with a specific set of rules.
magical experiences can occur. The hard part about starting a
journey of this kind is "throwing away" everything you ever learned
up to that point. I do believe that it is not a sin to explore our
spiritual heritage and how we got to where we are.
I also believe that my Higher Power encouraged this journey of mine.
The reason, I believe, is to have a closer relationship with Him (or
Her). This is why a spiritual journey doesn't have to involve religion.
With religion we are stuck with a specific set of rules.
| The 12 Steps they told me "do the steps, all 12 of them than... you'll find your Friend" they went on to say "believe me it will get a little better... day by day" Step One... there was nothing I could do quite depressed... feeling blue Step Two... I sought a new belief slowly... it provided some relief Step Three... answers I began to find it brought about some peace of mind Step Four... I looked deep inside no longer did I want to run or hide Step Five... I put my trust in Him and told another all my sins Step Six... I saw all the defects based in shame I'd throw away all those old games Step Seven... I found a gift in humility a new world I'd see Step Eight... a list was made when I searched my soul years of abuse had took its toll Step Nine... I began making amends apologies was the only message I'd send Step Ten... the truth was easy to see an inventory would help keep me free Step Eleven... my new Friendship was strong with prayer and meditation days weren't so long Step Twelve... I couldn't wait to share and let others know we care they spoke the truth life did get better I found peace within which made the world more peaceful and serene |
Relapse-prevention-using-growth-inc-tools
A site dedicated to substance abuse relapse prevention tools. Be steps ahead breaking the habit, with substance abuse relapse prevention/with personal relapse prevention plan.
A site dedicated to substance abuse relapse prevention tools. Be steps ahead breaking the habit, with substance abuse relapse prevention/with personal relapse prevention plan.
| The 12 Steps of AA My experiences, strengths, and hopes with the 12 Steps told in a story and a poem |
High Praise for the video poem
The 12 Steps and Creating Dreams
From Bill Urell’s Addiction Recovery Basics website
"My good friend Doug Cuddihy at Sobriety.tv sent
me this video poem to view. Doug's site is certainly
worth a visit as he has professional grade addiction
recovery videos that are quite simply the best on
the net.
This video is a two-fer. Two-fer a nickel, as it was
done by Dave Harm who has another site I heartily
endorse at DaveHarm.com. I endorse very few
sites but these two guys are talented and have a
wonderful message, Check out the sites and the
video. Enjoy!"
NOTE - The poem is to the left and the video is
below. And thanks Bill for your very kind words!
The 12 Steps and Creating Dreams
From Bill Urell’s Addiction Recovery Basics website
"My good friend Doug Cuddihy at Sobriety.tv sent
me this video poem to view. Doug's site is certainly
worth a visit as he has professional grade addiction
recovery videos that are quite simply the best on
the net.
This video is a two-fer. Two-fer a nickel, as it was
done by Dave Harm who has another site I heartily
endorse at DaveHarm.com. I endorse very few
sites but these two guys are talented and have a
wonderful message, Check out the sites and the
video. Enjoy!"
NOTE - The poem is to the left and the video is
below. And thanks Bill for your very kind words!
Spirituality vs. Religion
While many may believe that the two are one in the same. I disagree. You can be spiritual without being
religious. And you can also be religious without being spiritual. Three quotes I've heard about the difference
that I truly enjoy.
- "Religion is for people scared of going to hell, while spirituality is for people who've been in hell."
- "Religion is man's search for a God. Spirituality is God's search for a man."
- "Religion has torn the world apart. Spirituality is teaching the world to hold hands."
While many may believe that the two are one in the same. I disagree. You can be spiritual without being
religious. And you can also be religious without being spiritual. Three quotes I've heard about the difference
that I truly enjoy.
- "Religion is for people scared of going to hell, while spirituality is for people who've been in hell."
- "Religion is man's search for a God. Spirituality is God's search for a man."
- "Religion has torn the world apart. Spirituality is teaching the world to hold hands."
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| Pages in recovery |
My most talked about poem...
I'm Tired is now a video. For all the years I've sat around AA tables, I've never met a person who came to
their first meeting saying it's time to quit. Mostly they come out of fear. Fear of going to jail, losing a job, or
getting a divorce. But the truth is they all come because they are sick and tired of being sick and tired.
I'm Tired is now a video. For all the years I've sat around AA tables, I've never met a person who came to
their first meeting saying it's time to quit. Mostly they come out of fear. Fear of going to jail, losing a job, or
getting a divorce. But the truth is they all come because they are sick and tired of being sick and tired.
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